Some government sponsors have found value in setting out specific criteria that need to be met before a PPP can be pursued. A recent GAO report, Highway Public-Private Partnerships . . . (2000a) on PPPs reported that the states of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia have developed the following criteria that consider the public interests before entering into a PPP agreement. In New South Wales, the public interest evaluation is conducted before advertising the project as a PPP, and the analysis is constantly updated as the project moves through the procurement process, including before the government signs the PPP agreement.
• Victoria
1. Effectiveness in meeting government objectives
2. Accountability and transparency, ensuring that communities are informed of both public and private sector obligations, and that there is oversight of projects
3. Affected individuals and communities, whether they have been able to contribute during planning stages, and whether their rights are protected through appeals and conflict resolution mechanisms
4. Equity, ensuring that disadvantage groups can make use of infrastructure
5. Public access, whether there are safeguards to ensure access to essential infrastructure
6. Consumer rights, whether the project provides safeguards for consumers
7. Safety and security of the community are secured
8. Privacy, whether the project adequately protects users' rights to privacy.
• New South Wales
1. Effectiveness in meeting government objectives
2. Accountability and transparency, ensuring that communities are informed of both public and private sector obligations, and that there is oversight of projects
3. Value for Money used to determine if the PPP approach is in the public interest
4. Community consultation, whether affected individuals and communities have been able to contribute during planning stages
5. Consumer rights, whether the project provides safeguards for consumers
6. Health and safety of the community are secured
7. Privacy, whether the project adequately protects users' rights to privacy.